The Presidential Election Petitions tribunal challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election begins today in Abuja.
BrandSpur Nigeria reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 25 February poll.
However, some opposition candidates with their parties had filed their petitions within 21 days of INEC announcing the results of the results on 1 March, to challenge the outcome.
The petitioners include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party, with its candidate, Peter Obi.
The rest are the Action Alliance (AA), the Action Peoples Party (APP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The petitioners allege INEC’s non-compliance with the Electoral Act as well as other fraudulent practices by Mr Tinubu and his agents during the election.
With Tinubu’s victory mired in unprecedented litigation, the election petition court commences sitting today, Monday, to determine the disputes.
A five-member panel of justices most likely to be presided over by Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, will conduct the pre-hearing session of the petition court on Monday.
Members of the panel will be known for the first time at the proceedings.
At Monday’s proceedings, the panel will be inaugurated while the template for adjudicating on the various petitions will be reeled out.
State glued to your devices as BrandSpur Nigeria updates you on the proceedings.
Presidential Election Tribunal Begins Today (Live Updates)
The inaugural sitting held between 9:14 am and 10:30 am.
List of presiding justices unveiled
The names of the Justices who will be presiding over the various petitions that will arise are the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Haruna Tsammani; Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal Asaba division, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Court of Appeal also of Asaba Division; Justice Boloukuoromo Ugoh of Kano division and Justice Abba Mohammed of Ibadan Court of Appeal.
Shortly before the sitting of the five-man panel of justices headed by the presiding justice of the PEPC, Justice Haruna Tsammani gave the assurance that justice will be served.
AA Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu
The Action Alliance has withdrawn its petition against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
This action was taken at the ongoing pre-hearing at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Monday in Abuja.
However, no reason was given for the withdrawal.
Obi Arrives Presidential Election Petition Tribunal
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi has arrived at the venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
This is how the People’s President arrived at the Appeal Court
Peter Obi’s legal team came fully prepared.
With God Almighty on our side, the people’s votes will be reclaimed.
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Congratulations OBA Lekki Phase 1 Adeleke Supreme Court #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary pic.twitter.com/vd9p8qqze1— DrUmaru_AJ (@Princeujay) May 8, 2023
10:48 am: Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, introduces self as Mr Tinubu’s representative
11:33 am: Court dismisses AA’s petition.
11:35 am: Court calls another petition filed by Action Peoples Party (APP)
11:36 am: Peter Abang announces appearance for Action Peoples Party (APP)
Mr Abang is the National legal adviser of APP.
11:38 am: Obed Agu announces legal representation for APP.
11:41 am: Wole Olanipekun (SAN) announces appearance for Mr Tinubu (respondent).
11:46 am: Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) announces appearance for APC.
11:50 am: Abubakar Mahmoud announces appearance for INEC.
12:05 pm: Lateef Fagbemi, APC’s lawyer informs court of his preliminary objection to APP’s petition.
12:09 pm: INEC lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, informs court of his client’s pending applications in response to APP’s petition
12:11 pm: Court adjourns APP’s petition until Wednesday, 10 May for continuation of hearing of the petition.
12:19 pm: Court calls Peter Obi’s petition challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory.
12:20 pm: Mr Obi announces appearance.
12:21 pm: Obiora Ifoh, Labour Party’s national publicity secretary, announces self as LP’s representative.
12:22 pm: May Agbamuche-Mbu announces appearance on behalf of INEC.
12:23 pm: Simon Lalong, Plateau State governor, announces appearance for APC
12:24 pm: Labour Party’s lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), announces appearance.
12:31 pm: INEC lawyer, Mr Mahmoud announces appearance.
12:35 pm: Wole Olanipekun announces appearance as lawyer to Mr Tinubu and vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima.
12:40 pm: APC’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, announces appearance.
12:45 pm: Mr Obi’s lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu, informs the court that he filed answers to questions raised in his client’s petition.
12:49 pm: INEC lawyer, Mr Mahmoud, informs court that the electoral commission has filed its responses to the pre-hearing questions.
12:50 pm: Wole Olanipekun, Mr Tinubu’s lawyer, informs court that his client has filed his answers to the pre-hearing questions.
12:53 pm: APC’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, says he has filed answers on behalf of his client to the pre-hearing questions of the court.
01:00 pm: Court adjourns Peter Obi’s petition until Wednesday, 10 May.
